By Chloe Bonsen

This is not an article suggesting that you should or shouldn’t try or use the keto diet but is an article to inform readers about the pros and cons of this diet.

Mind Body Green states that “The ketogenic diet has been used for many years, mostly in clinical settings like hospitals, as part of the treatment protocol for children and adults suffering from epilepsy.”  They also state that “The ketogenic diet is extremely strict and requires following specific guidelines of about 25 to 35 grams of net carbohydrates (total carbs minus fiber) daily, about the equivalent of one apple. The rest of a ketogenic person’s diet is comprised of 5 percent or so protein and then fat for the remaining 70 to 80 percent of the calories.”

When talking to SVC’s physical education professor Susan Deschenes who is also a personal trainer, she informed us about many things about diets that don’t always come to mind in the everyday life style. Deschenes stated,

“Most diets for most people don’t work. You may lose weight but will regain if not the same weight but more once you return to your normal diet… However, the Keto diet is safer than some, but when dealing with high fat can lead to high saturated fats which puts stress on the heart also if someone

cut carbohydrates then they can rob their body of the vitamins and minerals needed to keep their bodies healthy.”

Mind Body Green provides a list for both the pros and cons of this diet. 

The pros to this diet are:

  1. It can reduce insulin levels and inflammation
  2. Possible weight loss (if the diet is followed correctly and eating the right types of foods, aka not eating saturated fats)
  3. You’ll end up eating healthier fats (again not saturated fats)
  4. It’s a way to detox from sugar

The cons to this diet are:

  1. It can be quite difficult to follow
  2. Many end up eating unhealthy fats
  3. It may not promote significant long-term weight loss
  4. You won’t be eating as much heart-healthy, gut-healthy, satiating fiber

There are more possible pros and cons to this diet than the Mind Body Green informs of. Deschenes stated that “that this diet can cause GI distress, but a pro could be that people notice how many crappy carbos and fats they eat.”

SVC student Cassidee Halls said “After sitting in and listening to what Susan had to say and from what I have learned in P.E. 100, I was able to understand the true benefits of just living a healthy life style has. Diets, like the keto diet, can have some good results, but they are usually only temporary as the individual’s lifestyle has not changed. It was only adjusted for a small amount of time.”

All in all, a diet is a diet and if followed correctly results can be seen. The same can go for those that choose to focus on the quality and quantity of food being eaten along with movement.